the historical roots of the mystification of the female complainant in rape cases
- Categories
- Article/Artikel
- Magazine Title
- Feminist Legal Studies
- Magazine Year
- 2000
- Magazine Number
- 3
- Creator
- Stevenson, K.
- Thesaurus
- verkrachtingen, slachtoffers, geschiedenis, Verenigd Koninkrijk
- Description
- This article explores the historical influences that shaped the cultural construct operating in the UK, in particular, the societal and legal attitudes of the mid-Victorians towards women and sexual violence, creating an historical mystification around the construct of the female rape victim and the crime of rape itself. Reference is made to a number of cases reported in The Times news-paper between 1850-1885 which underline the requisite portrayal of the rape complainant as an unequivocal victim. It is argued that the relocation of this historical and socially constructed mythological imaginary within the context of the law and the trial process has disproportionately contributed to the modern scepticism which surrounds the female complainant.